The state government in the Northern Territory have updated rental laws, pertaining to approved application information and documents.

The 2Apply Team is experienced with regulatory changes. InspectRealEstate and Reapit, together with our strong product, legal, and development teams, are working together to ensure compliance with this new legislation.

Please find below a detailed overview of changes in approved application information and documentation, followed by the changes we are making to 2Apply in response, which will be live in all accounts in the Northern Territory from Wednesday, the 26th of March 2025.

Please note that there are areas that require your attention to ensure your compliance if you are based in the Northern Territory.

The following information is not allowed to be asked as part of a rental application form in the Northern Territory:

• Marital status
• Age
• Gender
• Sexuality
• Intentions to start a family
• Race
• Nationality
• Health status or medical history
• Religious or political beliefs
• If applicant has a
  disability

The following information is approved to be asked as part of a rental application form in the Northern Territory:

• Details of an applicant’s name, email address and telephone number
• Applicant is of legal age to enter a tenancy agreement
• Applicant meets criteria for housing (if a requirement)
• Applicant’s current address
• Details of previous landlord and consent to contact them for a reference
• Referee contact details and consent to contact them
• Number of occupants who will be residing in the property, including the number of children under the age of 18
• If they have pets
• Emergency contact

Approved Documents will now fall into the following categories:

• Proof of the identity of the tenant.
• Proof the tenant can pay the rent.
• Evidence the tenant will look after the property.

Primary Documents:

• Driver’s licence
• Proof of Age Card
• Defence Force ID
• Government ID
• Passport
• Working with Children
• Clearance/Ochre Card
• Photographic identification from a recognised local Aboriginal authority

Secondary Documents:

• Letter from land council confirming identity
• Medicare Card
• Concession or Health Care Card
• Birth/Marriage or Divorce certificate
• Centrelink Income Assessment
• Income Tax Notice of Assessment
• Utility Bill
• Immigration/Citizenship papers
• an approved Department of Housing (NT) Proof of identification form

Proof of Income:

• Current payslips
• Income statement (employer or Centrelink)
• Letter on letterhead from employer
• Income Tax Notice of Assessment (if self-employed)
• For self-funded retirees a document showing investment income/interest and frequency
• Bank statements are only permitted to be used if no primary documents are available. These must be redacted to protect prospective tenants’ privacy relating to information not relevant to verify their ability to pay.

References are only allowed from:

• Reference from a previous landlord
• Neighbour
• Personal associate

Changes to 2Apply in NT from 26-03-2025

The following fields in your application form will be hidden or adjusted to reflect updated approved application information:

• Gender
• Date of Birth (updated to ask if applicant is over 18)
• Being a smoker
• Cover letters
• Student status

Action Required: To ensure compliance, we have unticked the above fields for you in 2Apply before March 26 2025. To review and confirm these changes on or after March 26, head to Settings > Applications > 2Apply > Field Visibility. This will ensure that these fields do not show on your application forms.

The following fields will be adjusted for you to ensure compliance. There is no action required for these fields:

• Dependents, now asking only about how many people will be living at the property;
• Employer details, now asking only for an income source.

The following fields will now be deactivated as application questions:

• Status of citizenship or permanent residency;
• Whether the tenant is applying to the Department of Housing for rent or bond assistance;
• Bankruptcy.

Action Required: To ensure compliance, we will disable the above questions for you in 2Apply before March 26 2025. To review and confirm these changes on or after March 26, head to Settings > Applications > 2ApplyWeb Admin > Questions.

The following documents will no longer be available as a document type when completing an application form in the Northern Territory:

• Student card
• Marriage certificate
• Current tenant ledger
• Previous tenant ledger
• Child support statement
• Personal information report
• Current tenancy agreement
• Bank statements (unless no other documents are available)
• Employment agreement

Action Required: To ensure compliance, we will set the category to ‘No’ for the above documents for you in 2Apply before March 26 2025. To review and confirm these changes on or after March 26, head to Settings > Applications > General > Document requirements.

If you have queries about any of the changes outlined above, or the impacts of the new legislation, please contact our friendly Support team at iresupport@reapit.com.